Population growth (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) in Iceland
Iceland: Population growth (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) was 2.8% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Population growth in Iceland, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in annual %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population growth in Iceland is 2.8%, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.6% on the previous year and up 153.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population growth in Iceland peaked at 2.9% in 2023 and was at its lowest, -0.1%, in 2010.
Iceland ranks 21st of 215 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population growth (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) in Iceland, year by year
| Year | annual % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 0.5% | — |
| 1971 | 0.8% | +54.3% |
| 1972 | 1.5% | +81.0% |
| 1973 | 1.5% | +3.1% |
| 1974 | 1.4% | -10.3% |
| 1975 | 1.3% | -5.5% |
| 1976 | 1.0% | -22.4% |
| 1977 | 0.7% | -25.0% |
| 1978 | 0.8% | +4.9% |
| 1979 | 1.0% | +25.4% |
| 1980 | 1.1% | +8.2% |
| 1981 | 1.1% | +7.7% |
| 1982 | 1.3% | +17.2% |
| 1983 | 1.3% | -0.9% |
| 1984 | 1.1% | -19.7% |
| 1985 | 0.8% | -25.9% |
| 1986 | 0.7% | -7.0% |
| 1987 | 1.1% | +49.6% |
| 1988 | 1.6% | +43.0% |
| 1989 | 1.2% | -20.9% |
| 1990 | 0.8% | -37.2% |
| 1991 | 1.2% | +49.1% |
| 1992 | 1.3% | +8.4% |
| 1993 | 1.0% | -19.1% |
| 1994 | 0.9% | -14.7% |
| 1995 | 0.5% | -37.4% |
| 1996 | 0.5% | -0.5% |
| 1997 | 0.8% | +51.7% |
| 1998 | 1.1% | +30.7% |
| 1999 | 1.2% | +12.9% |
| 2000 | 1.4% | +13.2% |
| 2001 | 1.3% | -2.9% |
| 2002 | 0.9% | -32.9% |
| 2003 | 0.7% | -22.4% |
| 2004 | 0.9% | +26.8% |
| 2005 | 1.6% | +80.3% |
| 2006 | 2.3% | +48.3% |
| 2007 | 2.5% | +7.8% |
| 2008 | 1.9% | -26.5% |
| 2009 | 0.3% | -81.6% |
| 2010 | -0.1% | -142.2% |
| 2011 | 0.3% | -312.3% |
| 2012 | 0.5% | +74.2% |
| 2013 | 0.9% | +77.8% |
| 2014 | 1.1% | +17.6% |
| 2015 | 1.0% | -6.3% |
| 2016 | 1.4% | +33.2% |
| 2017 | 2.3% | +69.0% |
| 2018 | 2.7% | +14.2% |
| 2019 | 2.2% | -17.9% |
| 2020 | 1.6% | -26.2% |
| 2021 | 1.6% | +1.0% |
| 2022 | 2.5% | +53.3% |
| 2023 | 2.9% | +16.4% |
| 2024 | 2.8% | -3.6% |
Iceland compared with similar countries
- Iceland's 2.8% is above the median for high income countries, which is 0.5%, 5.5× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Iceland's 2.8% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 0.3%, 8.4× the median. (56 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Population growth (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) in Iceland changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | +312.3% | -0.1% | 0.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1.0% | 0.5% | 1.5% | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.1% | 0.7% | 1.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.9% | 0.5% | 1.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.4% | 0.3% | 2.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.2% | -0.1% | 2.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.3% | 1.6% | 2.9% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Iceland
More population data for Iceland
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.4984 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -5.08 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.4984 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.2688 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 408.78 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.4806 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.6617 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate -0.502 (2100)
- Population density 3.6 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 13,661 (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population growth in Iceland?
- Population growth in Iceland was 2.8% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest population growth recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 2.9% in 2023.
- What is the lowest population growth recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was -0.1% in 2010.
- How does Iceland rank for population growth?
- Iceland ranks 21st out of 215 countries with data for 2024.
- Is population growth rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 153.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iceland data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Population growth (annual %). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 55 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release